Study in the United States on an F-1 student visa

Education in the United States is a state responsibility, so public-university fees and admission rules differ by state. Degrees follow an associate (2 years), bachelor's (4 years), master's (1–2 years) and doctorate structure. For Indian applicants: a 3-year bachelor's degree may not give direct entry to a US master's, as some institutions require 16 years of education. There is no national qualifications framework; quality rests on regional and national institutional accreditation, recognised by the US Department of Education and CHEA. Private agencies such as WES and ECE evaluate foreign qualifications, and each institution decides what it accepts and sets its own English requirement. Tuition is usually charged per credit hour or per semester, not per year, and international students pay the out-of-state rate or higher. Most institutions require their own or an approved health insurance plan, at your cost. Snowfall varies: Boston averages 70 cm a year and Chicago 69 cm, while Los Angeles and Phoenix get none, so budget for winter clothing and heating in the northern states.